Presented is a set of four padded corner post cushions from a boxing ring at former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier’s Philadelphia, Pennsylvania gym, circa the 1980s. Each of the four post cushions is 8 x 48-inches with two white cloth straps on the triangular back of the cushion. There are two white Everlast-branded posts with yellow and black accents, one red post with white and black accents, and one blue post with black and white accents. The four posts are stored in the original 10 x 12 x 50-inch brown cardboard shipping box.

“Smokin Joe” reigned as the undisputed heavyweight champion from 1970 to 1973, and as an amateur won a gold medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics. Frazier emerged as the top contender in the late 1960s, defeating opponents that included Jerry Quarry, Oscar Bonavena, Buster Mathis, Eddie Machen, Doug Jones, George Chuvalo, and Jimmy Ellis en route to becoming undisputed heavyweight champion in 1970, and followed up by defeating Muhammad Ali by unanimous decision in the highly anticipated Fight of the Century in 1971. Two years later, Frazier lost his title when he was defeated by George Foreman. He fought on, beating Joe Bugner, losing a rematch to Ali and beating Quarry and Ellis again.

Frazier's last world title challenge came in 1975, but he was beaten by Ali in their brutal rubber match, the Thrilla in Manila. He retired in 1976 following a second loss to Foreman. Joe Frazier's Gym, located at 2917 North Broad Street in Philadelphia, was originally constructed circa 1895 as a window sash and blind warehouse. The building remained in industrial use until Cloverlay Inc., an investment group that sponsored Frazier, purchased the property for his use in 1968. The gym served as Frazier's training center for his highest-profile fights, including his championship bouts against Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. Following his 1975 retirement, Frazier purchased the gym from his investors and opened it to the public. For the next 25 years, Frazier trained boxers at the gym including Golden Gloves Heavyweight Champion Duane Bobick and Olympic Medalist Terrance Cauthen. The gym was also open to local inner-city youth. Frazier, who lived above the gym, was forced to sell the building due to debt and back taxes in 2008. This item comes with a LOA from Frazier’s manager.

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